Skopje, 18 January 2024 (MIA) – The Judicial Council at its urgent session on Thursday decided to temporarily assign newly elected Skopje Appellate Court judge Aleksandra Risteska to the Skopje-based Criminal Court, until a verdict is announced in the 'Laskarci' bus crash case.

Risteska is a member of the trial council for the 'Laskarci' case, which is why after her election as Skopje Appellate Court judge there was a risk of a trial de novo for the case, which has been going on for more than four years now. 

The hearing on the announcement of a verdict in the 'Laskarci' case is scheduled for January 25, 2024.  

Facing charges in the case of the ‘Laskarci’ bus accident of 13 February 2019, are Durmish Beluli, owner of 'Durmo Tours,' responsible for transportation, Remzi Miftari, and the bus driver, Manoil Trifunovski. They are charged with committing serious offenses against the safety of people and property in traffic.

The trial is presided over by the judge Diana Gruevska Ilievska.

Aleksandra Risteska and the rest of the newly elected Skopje Appellate Court judges were sworn in on Thursday, taking the oath of office in a ceremony before the Judicial Council. 

At its session on Nov. 15, the Judicial Council elected Gabriela Gajdova, Aleksandra Risteska, Vesna Dimishkova and Osman Shabani criminal judges and Aleksandar Shopov, Irena Kostadinova Angelova, Natalija Doneva and Ilir Sulejmani civil judges at the Skopje Appellate Court.

Photo: MIA